But Michigan football seems more confident second-year receiver Tarik Black will play at some point this season.

"We've been gaining confidence every day at practice," quarterback Shea Patterson said Tuesday. "Having guys like (tight end) Nick (Eubanks) and (receiver) Nico (Collins) and possibly Tarik back, it makes things that much better."

Back this week against the Michigan State Spartans?

"Could be this week, could be (the next game) or the week after that," Patterson said. "I see him every day and he's working his tail off."

Black suffered a fracture in his right foot in late August, roughly a week before the Wolverines opened their 2018 season at Notre Dame. It was the same injury he suffered to his left foot in the third week of his freshman season in 2017.

Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh has maintained throughout this season Black will play this year. But no one's sure when.

"I see him every day, every day he's moving," Collins said. "Out there running routes. I feel like he'll be back (at some point). It's been hurting him to sit, he wants to be back bad. ... He's doing his rehab. He's on the treadmill. He looks pretty good. Hopefully he can come back soon.

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Even with Michigan stomping Wisconsin, Minnesota staying close with Ohio State and Northwestern needing overtime to top Nebraska, the biggest story of the Big Ten this past weekend was Michigan State's win over Penn State. Where does this put the Spartans in the Free Press' Big Ten power rankings? Rich Barnes, USA TODAY Sports